Two AFC North teams that pulled off big wins last week face off in Week 3. The first, the Baltimore Ravens, needed some positive news after ... well, everything. The second, the Cleveland Browns, pulled off a big upset over the New Orleans Saints to get to 1-1.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Ravens vs. Browns
Both division foes had big wins in Week 2 after Week 1 losses. Which one will get to a winning record?
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Sunday in Cleveland, the two teams face each other at 1 p.m. ET, both looking to move to 2-1. There aren’t a whole lot of fantasy names here, but let’s run through them:
Ravens
Start in every league: Dennis Pitta, Justin Tucker, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Steve Smith Sr.
I’ve been burned by Pitta so far this season, but I maintain that Daniels’ big Week 2 was a fluke and Pitta will be fine. But my eyes are narrowed at him. ... Tucker is a regularly high-producing kicker. No reason that should change now. ... Sunday’s game could be low-scoring, with neither offense particularly high-powered. Good news for the Ravens’ defense.
Steve Smith Sr. has moved into flex territory, but it’s low-end. We still don’t know for sure that he can do this long-term.
Flacco has one fewer fantasy point than the disappointing Drew Brees so far, and Flacco doesn't have nearly Brees' upside. ... Pierce would have been a stay-away even before his late-week injury downgrade, now he's a definite do-not-start. ... And you can't possibly trust Forsett or Taliaferro, either, unless someone eventually seizes the job full-time. ... Torrey Smith is pretty clearly not fantasy-useful for the time being. ... As I said above, I'm calling fluke on Daniels.
Browns
Start in every league: Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Terrance West, Andrew Hawkins, Jordan Cameron, Billy Cundiff
Bench: Brian Hoyer, Isaiah Crowell, Miles Austin
See the above note about Baltimore’s defense and apply the same to the Browns’ defense. Low-scoring, etc.
West has produced double-digit fantasy points in both games this year, but with rumors about usage between him and Crowell changing, we’ll see. He’s likely still a flex play. ... Hawkins has more value in PPR leagues, but even in standard he’s been enjoyable through two weeks. ... Cameron’s Sunday status is still up in the air. Check back closer to game time, but if he’s active, you probably use him. ... Cundiff isn’t as good as his kicker counterpart in this game, but he’s been productive so far.
Hoyer hasn’t put up more than 13 fantasy points in either game so far. ... As noted above, Crowell’s stock is rising a bit, but I’d definitely prefer West right now. ... Austin got more attention in Week 2 after almost nothing in Week 1. We’ll need some consistency to use him.
